Method of deodorizing diapers and human excreta

ABSTRACT

A method of deodorizing diapers and human excreta is provided which comprises applying to the diapers or the excreta a chemical composition which in its simpliest form consists of an acidic material, an antibiotic material, and a solvent. The impregnating composition may also contain a chelating agent and a wetting agent. The exact nature of the acids, antibacterial agents, solvents, chelating agents, and wetting agents is described. The treatment of diapers results in a marked decrease in offensive odors from excreta, thus making the changing of sorted diapers less unpleasant.

[4 1 Sept. 2, 1975 METHOD OF DEODORIZING DIAPERS AND HUMAN EXCRETA [76] Inventor: Una L. Hart, 1750 Summit Ave., St. Paul. Minn. 55105 221 Filed: on. 29, 1973 211 Appl. No.: 410,241

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 104,769, Jan. 7, 1971, abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 782,474, Dec. 9, 1968, abandoned.

[52] US. Cl. 424/76 [51] Int. Cl. A61C 13/00 [58] Field of Search 424/76 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,936,845 11/1933 Lautmann 424/69 2,501,927 3/1950 Block 424/79 2,838,440 6/1958 Thurmon 424/79 2,919,230 12/1959 Thurmon 424/79 3,133,866 5/1964 Richards0n.. 424/69 3,141,821 7/1964 Compeau....., 424/69 3,152,039 10/1964 Mattson 1 424/79 3,326,808 6/1967 Noseworthy 252/106 Primary ExaminerAlbert T. Meyers Assistant Examiner Norman A. Drezin [57] ABSTRACT A method of deodorizing diapers and human excreta is provided which comprises applying to the diapers or the excreta a chemical composition which in its simpliest form consists of an acidic material, an antibacterial material, and a solvent. The impregnating composition may also contain a chelating agent and a wetting agent. The exact nature of the acids, antibacterial agents, solvents, chelating agents, and wetting agents is described. The treatment of diapers results in a marked decrease in offensive odors from excreta, thus making the changing of soiled diapers less unpleasant.

4 Claims, No Drawings METHOD OF DEQDORIZING DIAPERS AND HUMAN EXCRETA This is a continuation-in-part of my previous application Scr. No. 104,769 filed Jan. 7. 197'], and which in turn is a continuation-in-part of my previous applica- BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 1968, Sr. No, 782,474, both aban- One of the common "pathological conditions of a babys skin is'ammonia dermatitis: or diaper rash. It

' tivel'yinacids'olutibh', th'ey increase in effectiveness as 'the pH increases: Afurther'fcature 'of the-present inve'ntion lies in the provision of a wetting'agent" in the treating solution.

The w'etti'ng agenti'p erii its the spray to penetrate the diapera'nd toe'venl'y distribute the product on the diaper i Asaresult, the spray'inay be applied to the diapers in small amounts and still be effective.

' These and other"objectsf'andnovel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

The firstin'gredient of the treating solution' is acid.

- While a strbng'mine'ral acid such as hydrochloric or sulfuricacid would neutralize alkalinecompounds, such acidsshould be avoided 'because' they themselves are 'skin' irrit'antsilsower molecular weight aliphatic acids is described in the medical literature as being charact terized by an erythematous, vesicular or ulcerated eruption in the diaper area. caused by the liberation of ammonia from urine 'by urea splitting organisms."'

(Laurence B. Slobody, M.D., Cliriical Pediatrics, McGraw Hill, New York, 1955, p.428); The urea splitting organisms are some 200 species of bacteria which contain the enzyme urease. (James B. Summer and G. Fred Somers, The Chemistry and Methods' of Enzymes, 3rd, Ed., Academic Press, New York, 1953; p.156). This enzyme catalizes with Splittingof urea,twhich is non-irritating to the skin, to ammonia which is a skin irritant because it is strongly alkalineiiej, ithas a pH considerably above 7 and thus causes a chemical irritation of the skin.

Similarly, there can be irritation byalkaline' residues left in improperly rinsed diapers. In the common household laundry detergents alkaline compounds suchas sodium triphosphate, polyphosphate', carbonate and metasilicate are present, -When the-diaper is washed using a product containing one or more of these compounds'and inadequately rinsed, thesc ma'terials a're left in the diaper. When sucha'dia'peris moistened by perspiration' orbyurine; these compounds dissolve toproduce analkaline solution which irritates the babys skin. r-i-ftm; 1 i f One of theobjectional odors from soiled diapers is ammonia which isproduced ifrom-ur'ea'in aririe byJbacteria oftenppresent in diapersu A feature of the present invention resides -in applying to-jthe'soil'ed dia'perand to excreta a ,hypertonicsolution including'a weak organic acid which will not -irritate"-the skin, and preferably one whichis odorless. :Certain acid salts could be used, preferably'salts"ofstrorig acids and weak bases.

A further feature of the present invention relates to the provision of a method-for the putpose described in which the hypertonic solution used in t'hemethodineludes an. effective antibacterial 'agents o' that the growth of bacteria will be inhibitedl-thcreby limiting the production of ammonia in badly contaminated diapers. The antibacterial agentlisnecessary to prevent the formation of large amounts of rammonia and' tonic treating composition includes a chelating agent.

Such an agent provides an aid to bactcri'ostasis. Al:

.. though the chelatingagents useddonot function effcceouldalsobe used, but they havebdors which make them less desirable. The acid should preferably be oi"- ganic or weak inorganic acid such as citric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid, mandelic acid, fumaric acid, benzoic acid, lauric acid, stearic acid, sodium dihydrogen phosphate and ammonium sulfate. The amount of the organic acid will vary, The very water soluble acids such as citric, malic and tartaric are to be used in a concentration by weight of 5 -10%; the moderately soluble acids such as. succinic and mandelic acids in a concentratio'n'byweight of 5-20%, and the slightly soluble acids such, asbenz'oic, fumaric, lauric and stearic acids in a concentration by weight of 10-50%. The concentration of'weight of the acidic salts is to be between 520%. I i

The acids may be used singly or in combinations. For example, a very soluble or moderately soluble acid may be combined with a slightly soluble one so that there will be reserve acidity; The water soluble :ac ids should be used in the concentrations rangespreviously defined and the slightly soluble one in suchan amount that the total concentration of acid .is..between' 25-50% by weight. i V

The amount: of acid which may-beus edjis quite naturally limited. As has been indicated; the acid must be weak, and if in an aqueous medium,,should not be applied to the diaper in sufficientquantity to wet it. Thus, while the acid in the product may be Sufficient to neutralize the residual alkaline compounds .in the diapers resulting from incomplete removal of laundry agents, it may not be prsent'in sufficient quantity to neutralize all the ammonia produced by bacteria in badly contaminated diapers. To counteract this bacterial action, it is necessary to kill the ammonia producing bacteria or at least to inhibit their growth. Therefore: an effective antibacterial agent is incorporated in the spray.

As examples of antibacterial'agents which are used the following may be listed: Hexachlorophene, 6- acetoxy-Z,4-dimethyl-m-dioxane, formaldehyde, thymol andphenethyl alcohol B More than one antibacterial agent may be used, provided that they are compatible. I

As an aid to stain removal and to antibacterial action, chelating agents such as"'ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, diethylcnetriamincpentaacetic acid and their sodium salts may be added-:Chelating agents such as the type described above generally 'do notfunction efficiently in acidic solution, but as the pH 'ris'es, they will become effective. I i

The addition of a wetting agent improves the hypertonic treating 'solutio'riwhich is designed to be sprayed on the diaper in. small amountsmObviously the amount of solution should be small or the diaper willbe met. The purpose of the surfactant,,then, is to insure the even distribution of spray onthe diaper by reducing the surface tension of the. liquid. Useful surfactants are nonylphenoxypoly (2-12) ethyleneoxyethanol, benzene alkyl (Ci-C15) sulfonate and sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate.

Suitable solvents are water, ethanol, isopropanol, and mixtures of these. In the case of the latter'two, they will also exert an antibacterial action.

The following solutions and suspensions illustrate the treating solutions. The solutions are simply prepared by dissolving the solutes in the solvent, the suspensions are prepared by mixing the ingredients and milling as required ina colloid mill. These solutions and suspen-' sions are to be used on soiled diapers; and excreta, spraying is a convenient method to use.

EXAMPLES l. 5 g. Citric acid 0.5 g. o-Acetoxy 2,4-dimethyl m-dioxane 94.5 g. Water 8 g. Malic acid I g. 3,4S-Tribromosalicylanilide 9] g. 95% Ethanol '3. g. Mandelic acid 2 g. o-Acetoxy 2,4-dimethyl m-dioxane g. Phencthyl alcohol (B) l g. 95% ethanol 5 g. Laurie acid g. Trioxane 'gl 4.1%.4-Trichlorosalicylanilidc g. Glycerol monostearate g. Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostcarate 70.5 g. Water 5. Mandclic acid l. g. Hexachlorophene Ii g. Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monostearate g. Water" 6. 50 g. 'LauriC-acid g. 3,4,5-'lTrihromosalicylanilidc g. Sorbitan trioleate g. Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monostearatc O 7. g. Sodium dihydrogen phosphate 'g. o-Acetoxy 2.4-dimcthyle m-dioxane 4 g. Water 10 g. Citric acid .5 'g. 6-Acetoxy-2,4-dimethyl m-dioxane g. Disodium salt of ethylcncdiaminetetraacetic Acid 5 g. Water Hexachlorophenc v g. Nonylphenoxypoly (2-l2) ethyleneoxyethanol 5 g. 957! ethanol g. Benzoic acid I g. Hcxachlorophcnc (1.5 g. Trioxanc I 0.5 g. Nonylphenoxypoly (2-l2) ethyleneoxyethanol 88 g. lsopropanol 5 g. Citric acid 2 g. 6- Acetoxy2,4-dimethyle-m-dioxane I 5 g. Disodium salt of ethylenediaminctctraacctic acid 2 g. Sodium dioctyl suli'osuccinatc 86 g. Water l() g. 'lartaric acid 3 g. 3,4,5-Tribromosalicylanilide 3 g. Dicthylcne triaminepentaacetic acid -Continued 2 g. Nonylphenoxypoly (2-l2) ethyleneoxyethanol 10 g. Starch 62' g. Talc 15 g. Stearic acid 2 g. 3,4.S-Tribromosalicylanilide 5 g. Tetraethyleneglycol monostcarate '2 g. Polyoxyethylcne (20) sorbitanmonostearalc 7] g. Water l5 g. Mandelic acid 25 g. Benzoic -acid v I g. 6-Acetoxy'-2,4 dimethyle-m-dioxane l g. Nonylphenoxypoly (2-l2) ethyleneoxyethanol 58 g.,lsopropanol v Emulsifying agents such as glycerol monostearate,

tetraethylene. glycol monostearate, polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monostearate, and soritan trioleate may also be added to stabilize aqueous suspensions of insoluble acids and antibacterial agents. They may be used singly or in pairs.

A perfume may be added, but this is an optional ingredient.

I claim:

1. A method of deodorizing soiled diapers which comprises applying thereto a deodorizing amount of a hypertonic solution consisting essentially of (l) 5 to 50% by weight of an acidic-material or mixture thereof, said acidic material being selected from the Group consisting of 5 to 15% by weight of GroupA, 5 to 20% by .weight of Group B, 10m 50% by weight of Group C and 5 to 20% by weight of Group D wherein Group A is anorganic acid selected-from the Group consisting 'of citric, malic and tartaric acid; Group Bis an organic acid selected from the group consisting of succinic and mandelic-acid; Group C is anorganic acid selected from the group consisting of benzoic, fumaric, lauric and stearic acid and Group D is an acidic salt selected fromthe group consisting of sodium dihydrogen phosphate and ammonium sulfate; (2) 0.5 to 5% by weight of an antibacterial agent slected from the group consisting of hexachlorophene, 4,3 ,4-tiichlorosalicylanilide, 3,4-5-tribromosalicylanilide, 6-acetoxy 2,4-dimethyl m-dioxane, bithionol, formaldehyde, thymol and phenethyl alcohol (B) and (3) a diluent selected from the group consisting of water, ethanol, and

isopropanol.

2.,Themethod'of claim 1 wherein said solution furtherineludes 0.5 to 5% of a chelating agent selected" from .the group consisting of ethylenediaminetet raacetie acid, diethylenetriaminepentaaceticacid and the sodium salt-thereof.

3. The method of claim I wherein said solution further-includes 0.5 to 2% by weight of a wetting agent selected from the group consisting of nonylphenolpolyethyleneoxy ethanol having 2 to 12 moles of ethylene oxide, benzene alkyl sulfonatc wherein said alkyl has from 4 to 15 carbon atoms and sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate.

4. A method of deodorizing human excreta which comprises applying to said excreta a deodorizing amount of a hypertonic solution consisting essentially of (l) 5 to 50% by weight of an acidic material or mixture thereof, said acidic material being selected from the Group consisting of 5 to 15% by weight of Group A, 5 to 20% by weight of Group B, to 50% by weight of Group C and 5 to 20% by weight of Group D wherein Group A is an organic acid selected from the Group consisting of citric, malic and tartaric acid; Group B is an organic acid selected from the group water, ethanol, and isopropanol. 

1. A METHOD OF DEODRIZING SOILED DIAPERS WHICH COMPRISES APPLYING THERETO A DEODRIZING ANOUNT OF A HYPERTONIC SOLUTION CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF (1) 25 TO 50% BY WEIGHT OF AN ACIDIC MATERIAL OR MIXTURE THERETO, SAID ACIDIC MATERIAL BEIGN SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF 5 TO 15% BY WEIGHT OF GROUP A, 5 TO 20% BY WEIGHT OF ROUP B, 10 TO 50% BY WEIGHT OF GROUP C AND 5 TO 20% BY WEIGHT OF GROUP D, WHEREIN GROUP A IS AN ORGANIC ACID SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF CITRIC, MALIC AND TARTARIC ACID, GROUP B IS AN ORGANIC ACID SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF SUCCINIC AND MANDELIC ACID, GROUP C IS AN ORGANIC ACID SLECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF BENZOIC, FUMARIC, LAURIC AND STEARIC ACID AND GROUP D IS AN ACIDIC SALT SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF SODIUM DIHYDROGEN PHOSPHATE AND AMMONIUM SULFATE, (2) 0.5 TO 5% BY WEIGHT OF AN ANTIBACTERIAL AGENT SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF HEXACHLOROPHENE, 4,3'',4''- TRICHLOROSALICYLANILIDE, 3,4'',5-TRIBROMOSALICYLANILIDE, 6-ACETOXY 2,4-DIMETHYL M-DIOXANE, BITHIONOL, FORMALDEHYDE, THYMOL AND PHENETHYL ALCOHOL AND (3) A DELUENT SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF WATER, ETHANOL, AND ISOPROPANOL.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said solution further includes 0.5 to 5% of a chelating agent selected from the group consisting of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid and the sodium salt thereof.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein said solution further includes 0.5 to 2% by weight of a wetting agent selected from the group consisting of nonylphenolpolyethyleneoxy ethanol having 2 to 12 moles of ethylene oxide, benzene alkyl sulfonate wherein said alkyl has from 4 to 15 carbon atoms and sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate.
 4. A method of deodorizing human excreta which comprises applying to said excreta a deodorizing amount of a hypertonic solution consisting essentially of (1) 25 to 50% by weight of an acidic material or mixture thereof, said acidic material being selected from the group consisting of 5 to 15% by weight of group A, 5 to 20% by weight of group B, 10 to 50% by weight of group C and 5 to 20% by weight of group D wherein group A is an organic acid selected from the group consisting of citric, malic and tartaric acid; Group B is an organic acid selected from the group consisting of succinic and mandelic acid; Group C is an organic acid selected from the group consisting of benzoic, fumaric, lauric and stearic acid; and Group D is an acidic salt selected from the group consisting of sodium dihydrogen phosphate and ammonium sulfate; (2) 0.5 to 5% by weight of an antibacterial agent selected from the group consisting of hexachlorophene, 4, 3'',4''-trichlorosalicylanilide, 3,4'', 5-tribromosalicylanilide, 6-acetoxy 2,4-dimethyl m-dioxane, bithionol, formaldehyde, thymol and phenethyl alcohol and (3) a diluent selected from the group consisting of water, ethanol, and isopropanol. 